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*this is solely my experience, it may be different for others. I live in Arizona, the requirements can be different for different states, and the type of product offered can be very different also. You can read a good article about the whole process on Leafly, here.

As soon as we moved to Tucson I started the process of getting my Medical Marijuana card. I received it on my birthday (July 2nd). Here’s the process I went through:

First I had to get an Arizona Driver’s License, thankfully I kept my license up to date even though I hadn’t driven in years. To get my license I had to prove my identity and prove I live here, I took a copy of our lease and mail that had been forwarded from our previous address. Within an hour after arriving at a DMV I had my temporary license in hand, after 2 weeks I received my official license in the mail. Very shortly after that I went in to apply for my Medical Marijuana Card.

To obtain a Medical Card from the Arizona Department of Health I needed to take my medical records that proved I have been dealing with one of the approved conditions on the list for over a year, in my case severe migraines, to a doctor to see if I qualify. To find a doctor who will do these referrals was pretty easy, I just looked in the local free paper, there are plenty of ads (I actually think this is kind of weird) I saw an ad that looked a bit more professional than some of the others and emailed them (as most of you probably know, I don’t use the phone because of my hearing loss). The doctor I saw is a Naturopathic Doctor, she reviewed my records briefly and checked my vitals. She told me a little about Medical Marijuana, and told me I should receive my card in a couple of weeks. Oh, I also had to pay a fee to the doctor and a fee to the state, the doctor fee can vary, the state fee is set. You can get the recommendation from the doctor and then file your own paperwork online with the health department, but I decided to pay the extra little bit to have the doctor’s office do the filing for me, they even took my photo for my ID. So to break down the cost, the office visit was $100, the processing fee (to have them file all my paperwork) was $20, and the state fee is $150 so the total cost to get my the card was $270. The state fee is $75 for those with a SNAP card (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

Ads found in the Tucson Weekly (I’m not against recreational use, but if this is a medicinal only state, then treat it like medicine. The ads like those above give medical patients a bad name.)

If you are interested in even more details, this link will send you to the center where I saw my prescriber. Actually it isn’t “prescribed”, it is recommended, doctors honestly don’t have enough knowledge about the efficacy of marijuana (the different strains vary in what they do, some are sedating, some are energizing, some help pain, some cause paranoia…..there is no way to actually just prescribe marijuana like you do other medications, you have to know all the different aspects of the different strains and delivery methods, therefore they really have no idea how to dose it. The center that I went to offered a 15-minute Complimentary Consultation to discuss the available types and delivery method for cannabis, and suggested strains to help with my condition. They also suggested a dosing schedule. I felt this visit too short, however, since I had already done a lot of research I didn’t need a lot of guidance (or so I thought), but I welcomed the advice on strains and dosing. The center also offers a couple of workshops, one teaches how to make edibles because it’s much cheaper to make your own, (these are an additional cost).

After receiving my card I visited a Dispensary that is located close to my house. (since then I’ve done some research on the different dispensaries in the area and I will make sure to take advantage of the best deals, it kind of blows my mind that they offer sales, I thought all the dispensaries would have the same prices and the same products, but it can vary greatly. I should note that the dispensaries are non-profit, however, some also sell paraphernalia, I don’t know if they are allowed to make a profit on that, it seems like they should.

When we arrived at the dispensary someone greeted us at the door and welcomed us in. We walked into what appeared to be a somewhat large lounge, the actual shop was in another room that had to be opened for me to go in. Stuart was not allowed in the shop with me even though I told them I needed him to hear, to compensate they had a pen and paper so we could communicate that way if needed.

A very sweet girl met me at the door and gave me a tour of the shop. She pointed out a cart that contained CBD products only and told me that anyone could come in and buy those, they simply took the cart out to the lobby and had them shop from there. I noticed that she kept pointing out the strains with the highest amount of THC, they are more expensive, so I was wary about taking her advice as to what I needed. (I have since been back to this dispensary and another and found the people I spoke with very knowledgeable and were able to really help me figure out which products to try.)

There are so many different types of delivery methods, smoking, vaping, tinctures, transdermal patches, various edibles (from cookies to hard candies), drinks, and concentrates….so much it is mind blowing. The doctor I saw recommended I use a tincture and vape. A CBD tincture 10 mg, 3 times a day, as a migraine preventative; and a CBD:THC 1:1 tincture to help me sleep. It was also suggested I vape for acute pain, since I have a dry herb vaporizer I was given the name of a few strains that would help, I was also given the strength I’d need if I wanted to use an oil vaporizer. This was a good starting point, but I have a lot more to learn. This article can give you more of an understanding of what CBD and THC are and what they do: “CBD vs THC: What’d the Difference?” (I have found the best information on Leafly.com)

In my next post I will tell all about what I’ve tried so far, and things I wish I knew before I started this journey.

****NOTE**** I admit I’m very nervous about writing this article. Please be kind to me, do not treat me as a drug seeker. I am not looking to get “high”, I simply want the pain to lessen.

Last week was my first time participating in the Ten Things of Thankful challenge, and it made me feel really good. This week my ten things were not as obvious; I think that makes it even more important to take note of them. I’ll be the first to admit, I did not have a good week. A lot of pain and stress has taken hold of my body, I’m holding on, but it’s getting difficult. It’s time to step back and figure out how I can make things a little less demanding. Every weekend is filled with so much to do, when it gets to be Monday I’m in full flare. That has to stop, but I really like my busy weekends. I haven’t been able to do any of these things in so long, it does my heart good to be able to do them now, but my body is not as happy with me, and I’m afraid if I don’t slow down my body is going to make me.

I’m so very thankful:

for my amazing friends who keep me going every day. Some I “talk” with almost every day, some I don’t keep in touch with as often. but I know they are there for me, and I am so very, very thankful for that. I can only hope they know I’m there for them too. I love my people.

that I didn’t get really hurt when I fell down the other day. Yep, I fell, again. Hey, it’s been a while, and I didn’t fall because I was dizzy or anything like that, I fell because I stepped on something slippery and my foot flew out from under me. Mostly, it just scared me.

that I was able to go back-to-school shopping with my niece. It’s so much fun getting to know my niece and nephew, I’m so grateful we can now spend so much time together.

that a local friend of mine texted me today saying that if there is every an emergency I can call on her. That really meant the world to me. She’s local, and I haven’t even seen her yet, I must rectify that.

that I have Air Conditioning. It has been dangerously hot here; I honestly don’t know how anyone could live here without A/C. There are so many homeless people here, I don’t know how they survive in this heat. I’m so grateful I have a safe home and don’t have to live on the streets, my heart goes out to those who do.

that I have been having fun learning to decorate cookies. I’ve only just begun to learn about it, but I’m having so much fun discovering this new art form. I attempted my first watercolor on a cookie this week, it turned out pretty cool, not perfect, but not too bad.

That my father-in-law is letting me use one of his cars, and it’s a really cool car too. I’m just beginning to drive again, after a few years, so it feels amazing to be able to get to go somewhere whenever I want. I’ve only gone on one errand so far, I’m very nervous driving here because I don’t know the area and I can’t hear the GPS. I need to get a GPS that I can see without taking my eyes off the road, that would make things much easier.

for cooler mornings. I’m trying to get up earlier so I can enjoy the weather before it gets too hot, some days I make it, other days, I don’t get out much.

that my surgery is soon. Just got a call this evening that my surgery date has been changed to the 7th. This is causing a bit of inconvenience with Stuart and work. as that was supposed to be a training day for him, I’m grateful he will still be able to take me.

that I was able to do write a post. With my wrist pain, migraines, and additional pain this week, I didn’t think I’d be able to get this done, I’m so grateful that I could do it.

What are you thankful for this week? I’d love for you to share with me just one thing you are grateful for this week!!

I’ll try and write more about my surgery soon, a little mini update before I have to disappear for a while.

“You can’t calm the storm,

so stop trying.

What you can do is

calm yourself.

The storm will pass.”

~ Timber Hawkeye

“You will not be

the same after the

storms of life;

You will be stronger,

wiser and more alive

than ever before!”

~ Bryant McGill

“The great benefit of

practicing mindfulness…

is the presence of mind

within a storm

of emotions.”

~ Phillip Moffitt

*photo was taken in Tucson, AZ , off my front porch, during monsoon season 2018. It’s am amazing time, I wish I could get better pictures for you. The monsoons are full of beauty and power, but…another of it’s secret powers is to cause super duper migraines. Ahh. Please do not use this image without permission.

Today we visited Aqua Caliente Park, it’s located on East Roger Road in Tucson, AZ. I never expected to see anything like this in the desert. Funny though, I saw several oasis in the Sonoran Desert outside of Palm Springs, CA; when we lived there, yet I never expected to see it here.

You can read about this park on the Pima County website, but I’d like to share some of the sites I saw there, I hope you enjoy them.

First you’ll find the Flora, followed by the Fauna. (some of the plants are not actually native, but they’ve been here a very long time)

The fish in the photo by himself was a monster! If anyone knows what kind of fish he is I’d love to know. I’m pretty sure he’s not a catfish; if he is, he looks different than SC or NC catfish. 🙂 ***I just read that the part has grass carp and bass in it, I think this might be a carp. I think it should be noted that none of the fish or turtles are native. However, here are many bird species that call this place home.

The frog was also huge! Bigger than my foot! He was so patient and let us take a photo of him, there was another frog close by, but he didn’t want his picture taken so he jumped in the water very fast.

I had severe migraines all week, I was lucky enough to have a few hours respite and a few more hours with the pain reduced enough that I could function, still at a slower pace and I was probably a cranky bitch at times, but I’m grateful I was able to enjoy part of the weekend.

*I have one last photo to share, but I’ll save that for Mindfulness Monday 😉

**Remember all photos and artwork on Picnic with Ants are personal property and are not to be shared without permission from the creator. (in this case, Wendy Holcombe took all the above photos and is the sole owner of all rights)

I was over at my friend Faith’s blog, Little Lord Oscar Dandelion, if you haven’t been over there, check her out, she has some amazing short stores and she’s just really cool too! She shared a post from Ten Things of Thankful and posted her own list of things to be thankful for, you can check her list out here. I think this is a wonderful idea, I have not been paying enough attention to the things in my life that I’m very grateful for, I think this will help me bring that front and center. I think it’d be super cook if you joined us on the challenge.

Ten Things of Thankful (I do want to point out that the rules say “Although the number ten is in the title, that is more of a suggestion than a hard and fast rule. Had a rough week and can only come up with one thing? That’s OK! “I’m thankful that situation X wasn’t worse” is a perfectly acceptable post.”

I’m thankful my surgery has been scheduled. (I’ll be having surgery on my wrist on the 9th of August, I’ll post more information on that soon)

Our house closes tomorrow….unless something unforeseen happens our house in NC will no longer be ours soon.

We started looking at houses here in Tucson this week and we already have a couple we are interested in…cross fingers we pick the perfect house, this will be our forever home.

I’ve been able to admit I might possibly have an eating disorder. I know I’ve written about this before, but it’s worse/different and I’m scared/desperate. Admitting this is the first step, I think, to getting better.

I was met by my niece and nephew today with the tightest hugs ever! I feel so loved.

I was able to play a game with my husband, his sister and her husband and I didn’t get competitive, I just found it so much fun, I laughed so hard…mostly at myself!

I went to the medical cannabis dispensary for the first time and it was very interesting, I learned a lot, and found out I need to learn much more.

I had a few hours yesterday with a great reduction in migraine pain. (I took a heck of a lot of medication to get to that point, but it sure was nice to have that break)

I think I could actually add a few more, like I’m very grateful we have A/C in this 112F+ days, I have a big bathtub, I have been able to cook often, I found a few new cooking shows….yes I can find all kinds of things to be grateful for….Oh I have one! Stuart took me to this little park today and it was gorgeous! A little oasis in the middle of the desert, it was amazing!

Like this:

I’m still not able to type much, a lot of hunting and pecking with just my left hand, but I’m managing to do a little. My wrist has not improved, the shot did not work, I go back to the doctor on July 2nd (which just happens to be my birthday). Wish me luck.

Welcome to our home. The top photo isn’t very good, but it’s of the front gate. The middle row from left to right: the front porch, the pool off the right of the house, the kitchen over looking the living room. the bottom row, left to right: the bathtub/shower, flowers from my neighbor, the sick in the bathroom.

When I first visited Tucson I wondered why so many houses had bars on the windows and walls around their homes, well I found out. The bars are because so many houses eight used to have, or still have, a Swamp Cooler. For a Swamp Cooler to work, you have to have the doors and windows open. So it’s not because the whole town has a lot of crime, it’s a deterrent for when people have the Swamp Coolers going. (Swamp Coolers cool by adding moisture to the air, it’s really cool actually. but it only works in places with no humidity). The walls are often added if you have a pool. It is also a law that if a window in your house can open and it opens out to the pool, it must have bars. The pool must also have a gate that locks, or has a latch way out of reach for a child.

The house we live in was built in 1943, I think the realtor said, that surprised me since that was a time of rationing. The bathroom was tiled in the 1970’s, the owner loved Fiesta-ware and the tiles were bought to kinda match that. I love it!! The kitchen was also tiled like it at some point, but they remodeled the kitchen not long ago and the cool tile went bye-bye. You can see the new stove in the tiny kitchen, and the tiny living room beyond that. The living room is so small we had to get rid of our couch, and the dining area is so small we couldn’t fit a regular size table in it. Too bad, because the house is pretty cool other than the tiny rooms, if they were bigger we would consider buying this house, but it simply won’t work, so we are on the hunt for a house to buy that meets our needs. This property also has a guest house, which would be perfect for us when Dad moves in, but as I said, the main house just doesn’t work.

There are many suns all around the outside of the house, that’s kinda cool.

I took a walk around the neighborhood the other day and I saw all these cactus! The barrel cactus, the paddle cactus, prickly pear, and the big daddy of all the Saguaro. (you might not be able to tell from the photo bur the Saguaro has blossoms (well buds or dried of blossoms anyway), they don’t bloom every year so this was a treat.

These photos are all from around the house. I especially like the last one.

I hope you have enjoyed the little trip around my new digs. I have a few shots from the trip across country if you’d like to see them let me know and I’ll post those too. 🙂

*all photos were taken by me, W. Holcombe, please do not use without permission.